Who deserves ESPYs? (it's a big night for Peyton)

The ESPYs have long been one of sports' best award shows. The very first televised show gave us the immortally inspirational Jimmy V speech, and ever since then, have provided us with fantastic speeches, entertainment, and excitement. While all of the nominees this year are certainly deserving of their respective awards, which are the most deserving?

Best Male Athlete
Nominees: Kevin Durant, Peyton Manning, Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cabrera

All of these athletes were fairly unquestionably the best at their respective sports, so deciding who was the best of the best requires us to look to other categories, such as challenges faced, winning ability, and the scientifically calculated 'wow factor'. Mayweather was great, winning both of his fights this year, but he was expected to win and it felt as if his level of challenge was not great. KD and Miggy were both spectacular, but only Peyton was able to get to the Super Bowl, his finals. The man(ning) also broke both the TD and passing yards records, which falls right around the line of unheard of.
Verdict: Manning

Best Female Athlete
Nominees: Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart, Ronda Rousey, Mikaela Shiffrin

All of these women rocked their sports, but no one was quite as captivating as UFC fighter Ronda Rousey. She took the fighting world by storm with attitude and dominance. I'd be afraid to not give her the win.
Verdict: Rousey

Best Championship Performance
Nominees: Jimmie Johnson, Kawhi Leonard, David Ortiz, Shabazz Napier

This is tough, but for me it comes to two people: Leonard and Big Papi. While Napier and Johnson were fantastic, I think Napier was actually better throughout the tournament than his performance in the championship game, and does anyone really want to see a racer win when most of the voters don't even know what the NASCAR championship is? No disrespect, Jimmie. Leonard rose above the ranks of supporting cast Spur to Finals MVP, after three truly fantastic games in Games 3, 4, and 5. Leonard's shooting was dynamic, his contribution to the Spurs' pass-first offense obvious, and did one of the best jobs ever guarding LeBron James. However, Leonard wasn't an overly fantastic factor in Games 1 and 2, whereas Big Papi's championship batting average of .668 is more consistent. Consistently ridiculous.
Verdict: Ortiz

Best Team
Nominees: Seattle Seahawks, San Antonio Spurs, UConn Women's Basketball, Los Angeles Kings, Boston Red Sox, Florida State Football

These are all championship teams, so no team sets itself apart by being able to win the big one. However, dominance throughout the regular season can narrow the field, so I'm going to bring it down to UConn, Seattle, and San Antonio. I think the Spurs truly set themselves apart by being so dominant throughout the season despite playing their stars less than the average team, and truly getting it done throughout the playoffs. However, what tips me towards the Spurs is the way they truly encompass the 'team' heading by gelling together and playing team-first basketball in a sport becoming increasingly focused on individual performance. In terms of truly excelling as a team, San Antonio rises above the rest, though any team in this field is worthy.
Verdict: San Antonio

Best Game
Nominees: Alabama vs. Auburn (Iron Bowl), Chiefs vs. Colts (AFC Wild Card), Kings vs. Rangers (Game 5)

Every one of these games was captivating because a big play in the final seconds won it. By that logic, I'm going to pick the game with the most exciting big play: the Iron Bowl. The other two games were great, but the Iron Bowl, and in particular Chris Davis' FG return, is absolutely legendary. This is the type of the game, especially considering the stakes of the rivalry, that will be talked about for ages. I'm not sure I can say the same about the other two games.
Verdict: Iron Bowl

Best Breakthrough Athlete
Nominees: Nick Foles, Masahiro Tanaka, Richard Sherman, Damian Lilliard

These athletes all performed incredibly, but I'm going to start off by eliminating Nick Foles because he didn't play the full season and while very good, didn't dominate on a week-to-week basis. My prediction is that Sherman will win, but I don't consider him to be a 'breakthrough' athlete because he was already considered to be one of the best corners in the game, just not by the average football fan. His post-championship game speech introduced a whole new legion of people to his dominance (see Richard Sherman article from January), but again, his dominance already existed. Establishing that, I'm going to say that Tanaka is the most deserving. Lilliard was incredibly, but Tanaka truly 'broke out' by coming from being unknown in the US to a shutdown pitcher for the Yanks.
Verdict: Tanaka

Those are the athletes I think are most deserving of their respective awards. Did voters agree with me? Find out on ESPN at 9pm!

The Beautiful Game Leads A Beautiful Charge

     I won't pretend to be an expert on soccer. I know as much, maybe a little more, as the next sports fan. The MLS has never really caught on in the US, and our obsession with just about every other sport fits in with our American way of being different. However, this year's World Cup was able to completely change the context of soccer in America, if only for 2 weeks. The beautiful display of heart and pride exhibited by our now beloved 23 red, white and blue-clad men is seemingly juxtapositional with the little relevance of soccer in America, but upon closer examination, exhibits the American spirit in the way only sports can.
     There were plenty of moments throughout the World Cup when giving up seemed a good option: starting with being placed in the 'Group of Death'. Experts predicted American failure at seemingly every opportunity, even now fan-favorite coach Jurgen Klinsmann commented on the impossibility of American victory in Brazil. As a nation, we cautiously watched our crucial game against Ghana tip off. While we didn't witness a spectacular performance, it was probably our worst of the Cup, we saw a type of determination we take pride in. From Clint Dempsey getting back on the field after breaking his nose, to the I-dare-you-not-to-smile moment when unknown sub John Brooks headed in the game-breaking goal, we showed true heart. In America, heart is everything. Faced with difficult circumstances, we prevailed, truly exhibiting the American spirit.
Feeling good, we played a dominant game against Portugal. Jermaine Jones scored a beautiful goal, Dempsey followed, and we were able to contain reigning Ballon d'Or champion Cristiano Ronaldo. Of course, it made it that much harder to bear when Portugal scored the equalizer with 35 seconds left in extra time. Well it was easy to lose faith after the shocking draw, our team, and with it our country, was able to remain composure and consider the positives of drawing with a world-class Portugal team. What better representation of the American, someone who can see the positive in depressing and extenuating circumstances?
Even in our loss to Germany, we were still victorious in that we made it to the next round (and in hindsight, only surrendered a single goal to Die Mannschaft, worlds better than the 7 host nation Brazil surrendered yesterday).
We eagerly awaited the game against Belgium, and what a game it was. There were so many hold-your-breath moments that it's no wonder we didn't all suffer respiratory issues. During regulation time, we had nothing to worry about: we had Tim Howard. While we suffered the heartbreaking loss, sinking after allowing 2 goals, perking back up after Julian Green netted a goal, and tearing our hair out at every oh-so-close opportunity (Wondolowski, Wondolowski!), and ultimately the disappointment of realizing this captivating journey was over, we went through it together. These players went to Brazil as a bunch of vaguely familiar names, and came back heroes (except for Tim Howard, he's a legend). For two weeks, these 23 guys were able to not only unite, but united a nation. Despite our elimination to Belgium, we were able to see the type of heart that is not only refreshing, but inspiring. Well it would have been nice to continue in the bracket, we were still treated, in every sense of the word. Besides, freedom tastes better than waffles anyhow.